Digital age

[5tevie]

I never regret learning my craft on a Zenit E. But I have to say that returning to photography in this digital age has shown me just how easy it is nowadays. Also the relative cost is so cheap.

The upside of this is that there are now so many more photographic colleagues enjoying this hobby of ours, as witnessed by flickr, and that cannot be a bad thing.

Steve.

[samleo]

Just an idle observation.
The last film shot I ever took was with my old Russian Zenit;solid brass construction as was the lens,it weighed a ton ,all manual controls with not a hint of any electronic circuitry;back home to the darkroom to spend hours processing the film with all the mess that entailed.
The other day,just on a whim , I bought a roll of film,it seemed like a good idea at the time ; I went out for a shooting session,I felt totally lost,kept looking for my LCD to check my results and could'nt understand why my non excisting auto focus would'nt work. The end result was a severe neck and back ache ,a lot of frustration and I have to waite a couple of days to see the results of all my efforts.
30 odd years ago it was all an absolute doddle;just drives home the fact that to-days photographers are totally spoilt,thank God....

Just an update..the results were pure crap!

[Neou]

 We have certainly never had it so good

[busybee]

I certainly think that all that learning in manual mode on a Zenit-E was worthwhile for me, though I no longer need an extra pair of hands to use my Weston Master V - and my bag is light enough that I don't mind carrying it! I love the fact that I can go in the 'darkroom' so easily and no-one complains when I take two shots of the same thing (used to drive my Dad mad, even if they were different viewpoints, but if they were bracketed of the same thing he just thought I was wasting money!). I haven't taken a film shot in the last 10 years. I might look out some of the old stuff one day though and do some scanning.

[geoff chandler]

I know we have it easy in many ways - but that 'easyness' also effects our learning,
learning is also easier, as we see our results quicker and also are able to immediatly
experiment and correct when we get it wrong.
The upshot of this is that nowadays, with this constant correctability, I am finding I am
getting more of my pictures just how I want them - and straight off the camera too.

[BigAl]

I know we have it easy in many ways - but that 'easyness' also effects our learning,
learning is also easier, ...

Learning is also free - well if you discount the initial outlay and the tiny running costs - so many more people are taking up the hobby. Not only have the last two decades given us 'free' photography, it also applies to the information resource. The internet has given us the access to free learning facilities and editing tools.

Let's not forget the value, too, of this and other web sites in providing the immediate feedback that is a major learning resource. The "Digital age" has changed photography for good.

[Norm T]

I have to agree with Al. Digital is a change for the good. SOmetimes when a "newbie" posts a photo better than mine I feel slighted (He did not have to learn the basics I say." )
Now I am wondering if I would like two digital cameras -- My Kodal Z740 does a good job for wildleft until the birds go in a tree -- or the bobcats get in the woods. Then my camera wants to focus on what is in front of them &*PO(%# !!